Eugenio L�pez-Chacarra will debut this Thursday in a ‘major’ and will do so precisely in the one that has historically been considered the most complicated of all, the US Openthat this edition falls into the field of Pinehurst n�mero 2 that the man from Madrid 24 a�os He knows very well about his university days. Through the qualifier played in the Dallas Athletic (36 holes), Chacarra earned the opportunity to rub shoulders with the best in the world this week. Along with him, David Puig and Sergio García have also achieved a place, curiously, all three of the LIV Fireballs team. Unfortunately Jon Rahm, has had to give up playing the tournament.
For Chacarra it is a new experience that has become a reality thanks to finally he forgets about the physical problems that have accompanied him for more than a year. Although now the message is positive, the golfer remembers in MARCA how his game suffered due to a mishap that became his torture rack.
“I have had hip problems for half a year due to an injury I got playing basketball. They made me some wrong infiltrations being at university [Oklahoma State]in the year 2022 so I could play and they put one in the wrong place. This ended up generating a fluid ganglion that remained adhered to the bone and was giving me problems,” explains Eugenio, who adds: “The strongest pain began in February 2023. At first the doctors did not They saw nothing and luckily they ended up detecting it. Not taking medication now makes everything possible as before.”
The key to my improvement is because I play without pain
Chacarra, winner of two professional tournaments at his young age, considers that his tenth place at the LIV Adelaide and his second place in the US Open qualifier is no coincidence: “The key to my improvement has been being able to play without pain. I have worked hard, but now my body allows me to compete in a different way and that makes the difference. Before I played nine or ten holes and I was already limping, and my head led me to do things while playing that I shouldn’t have to compensate and avoid the pain.”
I’m going to do what I dreamed of since I was little, which is to be in the big clubs.
In any case, the man from Madrid is already focused on what’s at hand these days: “One of the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the season was to compete healthy again and participate in the ‘majors’. The first opportunity I had I achieved it. Now, for a good week of US Open. The first thing I want is to enjoy, because I’m going to do what I dreamed of since I was little, which is to be in the big leagues.”
Some colleagues have already warned me about how difficult a US Open can be
Of course, the young LIV player already knows that he is facing the most complicated tournament, although he has one bullet in his favor: “I was lucky enough to play this #2 Pinehurse course six or seven times when I was at Wake Forest University”. However, he knows what to expect: “Some colleagues have already warned me about how difficult a US Open can be. I can also imagine how difficult the USGA will make the course. We already know that It’s going to be a great test. “If I am myself and play like I have in recent weeks, I think I can do well here because of how my game is.”comments.
I hope some of the Spaniards win. I’m thinking about enjoying and improving, but to win you have to be here and at least I’ve already achieved that…
Although the cast of stars in Pinehurst is extensive, López-Chacarra also dreams of doing something important this week: “Favorites? From LIV there are players like Jon, Sergo, Koepka, DeChambeau, Cameron Smith… And from the PGA, Thomas, Spieth or Scheffler. I hope some of the Spaniards win. I’m thinking about enjoying and improving, but to win you have to be here and at least I’ve already achieved that. If I have to get wet, then I hope I win it,” says an excited Eugenio.
